DRDO Completed Trials of Aerostat System

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 25 December 2010 successfully completed the trials of a big aerostat system developed by it. The trials comprised surveillance over Agra and interception of a variety of communications. The aerostat carried electro-optic and communication intelligence payloads developed by DRDO. The aerostat also had a thermal camera for use at night and in low visibility conditions. The Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra Cantonment was responsible for the design, development and integration of the system. The ADRDE is a premier laboratory of the DRDO which specialises in developing parachutes, lighter-than-air systems, flotation systems and aircraft arrester barriers.

Several high-end technologies developed by DRDO in association with big and medium-sized industries in the aerodynamic design of balloons, fabrics, hydraulic winch, electro-optic tether, high pressure helium cylinder manifold resulted in the realisation of this aerostat platform.